Disney is scaling back the Hollywood premiere of its live-action Snow White remake amid mounting controversies surrounding the film.
The March 15 event at the El Capitan Theatre will feature stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, but with significantly limited media access.
Unlike typical Disney premieres, which usually invite dozens of media outlets to interview cast and creatives, coverage will be restricted to photographers and a house crew only.
The decision comes as the film faces backlash on multiple fronts, from casting choices to political tensions between its stars.
The Marc Webb-directed adaptation is scheduled to hit cinemas on March 21.
Zegler, who plays the titular character, has faced criticism since her casting was announced in 2021, with some Disney fans questioning why a Latina actress was chosen for the role.
Rachel Zegler will play the lead role in 2024's Snow White PAThe West Side Story star further fuelled controversy when she called the 1937 original film "dated" and criticised its storyline.
"There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. So we didn't do that this time," Zegler told Extra TV in 2022.
She also stated her character would not be "dreaming about true love" but instead "about becoming the leader she knows she can be."
These comments sparked backlash from fans who accused the remake of prioritising "woke" messaging over authentic storytelling.
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Snow White stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot presented at this year's Oscars
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Peter Dinklage, known for his role in Game of Thrones, publicly criticised the film's portrayal of little people.
"They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you're still telling the story of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' Take a step back and look at what you're doing there," Dinklage said on the WTF With Mark Maron podcast in January.
Disney quickly responded with a statement to Good Morning America following his remarks.
"To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community," the studio said.
The characters were reportedly described as "magical creatures" in casting notices.
Meanwhile, world politics have also played a significant role in the controversy surrounding the film.
Zegler has promoted "free Palestine" on social media, including a post after the first Snow White trailer was released online.
In contrast, Gadot, who is Israeli and served two years in the Israel Defense Forces, has become an outspoken supporter of Israel.
The Wonder Woman star recently delivered a passionate speech when honoured at the Anti-Defamation League's annual summit in New York City.
"Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating," Gadot said.
Their opposing political stances have fuelled online debates and calls for boycotts.
The scaled-back premiere will include a pre-party and screening at the El Capitan Theatre, with both Zegler and Gadot expected to attend despite the controversies.
While Disney has not officially commented on the reasoning behind this decision, sources familiar with the situation have offered conflicting accounts.
Some outlets report this was always intended to be a smaller event, while others suggest it's a direct response to the ongoing backlash.
In February, pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Hollywood premiere of Captain America: Brave New World, raising concerns about similar demonstrations.
The UK premiere of Snow White has reportedly been completely scrapped, with promotion limited to a handful of tightly controlled press events.
Snow White star Rachel Zegler has divided opinions with her political takes
PADespite the controversies, promotional activities for Snow White continue ahead of its March 21 release.
Zegler and Gadot recently presented together at the Oscars, though some observers described their interaction as "chilly".
Zegler has made promotional appearances in Tokyo and is scheduled to visit Spain alongside director Marc Webb.
